The Microbiome: Its Role and Therapeutic Potential in Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Dear Colleagues,

The human microbiome is the genetic information contained within the diverse collection of microorganisms that live within, and on, our bodies. Our gastrointestinal tract alone contains trillions of bacteria, fungi, bacteriophage, protozoa and viruses. Unlike our human genes, the genes within our microbiome can alter according to influences such as diet, stress, medication and environment.

Over recent years, animal studies have begun to reveal the immense significance of microbiome manipulations on behaviour. We are now seeing studies emerge exploring these issues in humans, but much more research is needed in this area, particularly in paediatric populations.

This Special Issue of Brain Sciences focuses on, but is not limited to, reviews and original studies addressing the importance of the microbiome in children’s mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders. Of special interest is research exploring the therapeutic benefits of microbiome manipulations for child psychology and psychiatry. We are seeking contributions from researchers using a range of diverse methodologies to explore these issues in human infants, children and adolescents. Research applying the findings of animal studies to child psychology and psychiatry will also be considered. Studies using dietary or probiotic interventions are particularly welcomed.

Dr. Kate Lawrence
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• microbiome
• neurodevelopmental disorders
• mental health
• probiotics
• diet
• nutrition
• ADHD
• autism